Yemeni party backs the opposition

The Yemeni ruling General People's Conference party has expressed complete readiness to back the opposition to pave the way for the opposition to present its candidate as a competitor against the ruling party in the forthcoming presidential elections.

In a statement to the United Arab Emirates' al-Bayan daily issued on Monday, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal stated that the Yemeni Socialist Party seeks to present a candidate for the presidential elections due to be held in October this year, adding that this candidate does not have the average of 10% of parliamentarians in order to be qualified for such a nomination as called for by the constitution.

Bajmal added that the General People's Conference party found out that it will back the Socialist Party in giving votes on this occasion so the opposition will be able to present a candidate for the presidency.

Bajmal did not mention whether the Socialist Party accepted the offer.

Yemeni President All Abdullah Saleh on last Tuesday called upon the opposition to nominate their candidates for the forthcoming presidential elections. These will be the first elections to be made through direct voting in the country.

These elections will be carried out upon the condition of the Yemeni constitution that there should be at least two candidates for these elections.